Address by His Excellency Right Honorable Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA, Speaker of Burundi Senate, opening the ordinary parliamentary session of December 2022

   Gitega, December 1^st, 2022

Honorable First Deputy-Speaker of the Senate;

Honorable Second Deputy–Speaker of the Senate;

Honorable Senators;

Your Excellencies members of Burundi Government;

Your Excellencies ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic and Consular Corps accredited to Burundi;

Representatives of international and local organisations;

Representatives of judicial authorities;

Representative of the Governor of Gitega Province ;

Administrator of Gitega Commune;

Heads of the Defense and Security Corps;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and gentlemen;

1. On behalf of Burundi Senate and on our own behalf, we would like to thank the Almighty God who showered us with grace during this parliamentary recess which did not last a whole month as usual because of the work that we had to carry out for the higher interest of the nation. God has accompanied us in all this work, and here we are again in this hemicycle, safe and sound. Let us acclaim the Almighty God in thanks! However, there is a senator, Honorable Niteretse Spéciose, who lost her husband. May God welcome his soul and comfort the stricken family! We ask you to support this family during these difficult times.

Honorable senators,

Distinguished Guests,

2. During this parliamentary recess, an extraordinary session was convened in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi in its article 245. This session was convened for the period from November 17 to 25 and had on the agenda the approval and swearing in of the Ombudsman of Burundi, the swearing in of the newly appointed members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the analysis of the following bills:

1⁰ Bill on the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of grant agreement n^o E1280-BI for the financing of the transport resilience project in Burundi (PRT) between the Government of the Republic of Burundi and the International Development Association (IDA);

2⁰ Bill on the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the IDA financing agreement n^o E0700-BI between the Republic of Burundi and the International Development Association in favor of the Trade Facilitation and Integration project in the Great Lakes (PFCIGL);

3⁰ Bill on the second amendment to the financing agreement for the Agricultural Production Intensification Project to Reduce Vulnerability in Burundi (PIPARV-B) by integration of grant n^o 2000003623 of USD 9,994,500 from the Green Fund for Climate (GCF);

4⁰ Bill on the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the IDA Financing Agreement n^o E0930-BI between the Republic of Burundi and the International Development Association in favor of the Support Project for the Foundations of the Digital Economy (PAFEN).

Honorable Senators;

Distinguished Guests;

3. In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi in its articles 193 and 198, during this ordinary session of December, the Senate will consider and adopt 6 bills. These bills are the following:

1⁰ Organic bill amending law n^o 1/08 of March 14, 2005 on the Code of Organization and Judicial Competence;

2⁰ Bill revising the Code of Civil Procedure;

3⁰ Bill revising Law n^o 1/004 of 9 July 1996 on the organization and functioning of the Notary as well as the Status of Notary;

4⁰ Bill ratifying the trade agreement between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Government of Burundi;

5⁰ Bill on the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the agreement between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Republic of Burundi on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports;

6⁰ Bill revising the status of the legal profession.

Regarding people representation,

4. We visited our electorate to join them in development works and also to hear their grievances. We thank the Almighty that although the rain of cropping season A started to fall very late, the rain covered the whole country and the plants are starting to grow well. We pray to the good Lord that he continues to give us sufficient rain and sunshine for the good growth of all the seeds. We witnessed that the fertilizer is available for all the people who paid for it, which testifies that the Government has taken into account the Senate recommendations in planning properly the agricultural sector to the satisfaction of the population.

Honorable Senators;

Distinguished Guests;

5. In our respective constituencies, we monitored the implementation of the passed laws. In addition, we collected the grievances of the population without forgetting to raise their awareness about safeguarding peace and security.

6. During this parliamentary recess that we have just ended, the members of the Senate Bureau paid visits to the provinces of Ngozi, Ruyigi, Bubanza and Mwaro. During these visits, we carried out various activities, in particular by supporting the population in their development projects and by visiting the sites where these projects are being carried out. We took advantage of these opportunities to exchange with the population about their concerns, without forgetting to provide them with advice where necessary.

7. As far as we are concerned, during this recess, we visited the communes of Marangara, Mwumba, Nyamurenza and Tangara in Ngozi province. In these communes, we collected the population complaints, and we gave orientations to find solution to their concerns while waiting for the concerns which require any technicity to be transmitted to the members of the government.

8. We also sensitized the population to preserve peace and security and work diligently for self-development. Some of the advices we gave them included: the protection of the environment, the fight against cohabitation and drunkenness, the limitation of births, the respect for the law, the fight against corruption and the peaceful solvation of disputes by the village notables.

9. We did not forget to challenge the population to deal with rising prices by increasing production.

In addition, we called on them to change their mentality following the climatic threats, by asking them to irrigate the fields where possible. Regarding the administrative and village notables who practice polygamy, we recommended that they be dismissed from their functions.

10. During the visit in Kirungu village in Nyabitsinda commune in Ruyigi Province, we joined the population of this commune in the construction of the health center on Gahambwe hill. At the end of this work, we gave them advice which consisted of the following: to end up the construction of this health center as soon as possible, to go to the health center for treatment when they are sick, to use impregnated mosquito nets, to clean up, to eat a balanced diet, and irrigate the fields in case of lack of rain.

Honorable senators;

Distinguished Guests,

11. During this parliamentary recess, the Deputy-speakers of the Senate also carried out visits to the field. The Honorable First Deputy-speaker of the Senate took part in the construction works of the classrooms of a school which is being built in Ndava commune of Mwaro province. She also paid a visit to Bubanza province, in the communes of Rugazi, Musigati and Gihanga to join the population in various construction works of public infrastructure such as schools, health centers, and also to realize the step already taken in terms of self-development, particularly in the fight against poverty through the practice of fish farming, poultry farming, etc.

12. As for the Honorable Second Deputy-speaker of the Senate, he visited the province of Rugiyi where, accompanied by the parliamentarians elected in this constituency, he followed the progress of the construction works of a water conveyance linking Nyabitsinda and Kinyinya communes. He also held a meeting for representatives of the population and heads of services of this province.

13. In addition, during the November recess, members of the Senate Bureau as well as senators participated in the welcoming ceremonies of the Torch of Peace in their respective provinces. The honorable senators took this opportunity to inaugurate various buildings built by the population itself.

Honorable Senators;

Distinguished Guests,

14. In the area of ​​diplomacy, the Senate, represented by its Speaker, participated in the work of the 14th Conference of Speakers of Parliaments of the East African Community in Nairobi, Republic of Kenya. The participants in this Conference exchanged on the relations and diplomacy among these Parliaments, and on the report relating to the legality of the body of the Parliament of the EAC which, currently, is not recognized by statute. To this end, they suggested to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to draft a law relating thereto.

15. Invited by his counterpart of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Speaker of the Senate, accompanied by some senators and executives of this Institution, went to Morocco within the framework of an exchange of experiences in accordance with the partnership agreement concluded between Burundi and the Kingdom of Morocco.

16. In this country, the Speaker of the Senate received in audience the President of the Chamber of Councilors and the ministers of this country, including the ministers having trade and agriculture in their attributions. The exchanges were essentially centered on strengthening mutual assistance between these sectors.

17. We carried out a working mission to Harare in Zimbabwe where we discussed with the Speaker of the Senate of this country on the strengthening of friendly relations and on the establishment of a commission of senators which will be responsible to identify areas that require mutual assistance. 

We also asked them to help us integrate into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) common market and to plead so that the recommendations from the 9th ASSECAA meeting can be implemented.

18. The Honorable First Deputy-Speaker of the Senate participated in the work of the 61st Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) held in Mozambique. In this same country, she took part in the work of the ACP-EU Conference.

19. The Honorable Second Deputy-Speaker of the Senate participated, by video-conference, in the preparations of the International Conference of Parliaments on the Fight against Hunger and Unhealthy Diet, organized by the Food Organization of the United Nations and Agriculture (FAO), which will take place in 2023.

20. In addition, other delegations of senators represented our Institution in an Inter-parliamentary Conference of the Great Lakes Region held in Lusaka, Zambia on November 19 and 20, 2022. The purpose of the Conference was to analyze together how women can actively participate in the electoral process.

21. The Senate was also represented in the work of the inter-parliamentary Forum of the countries of the Great Lakes region held in Nairobi on November 23 and 24 of this year. The purpose of this Forum was to analyze how to take the gender aspect into consideration when elaborating development projects. Representatives of political parties also attended this Forum.

22. In this same area of ​​diplomacy, it is worth mentioning that the Senate participates in the inter-parliamentary games organized by the member countries of the EAC. These games are being held in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, from November 25 and will end on December 02, 2022.

23. In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi, the senators participated in the swearing-in ceremonies of the Burundian Ombudsman and the new members of the Truth-Reconciliation Commission (CVR). These ceremonies took place at the Kigobe Congress Palace, in Bujumbura city, on November 22, 2022.

24. During this ordinary session of December, we will accomplish the missions provided for by the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi such as the analysis and adoption of bills sent by the Government, the monitoring of the application of laws adopted and the representation of the people. We will keep a close eye on how the council of village notables functions in terms of fair justice for all.

Honorable senators;

Distinguished Guests,

25. We will continue to sensitize the population to get used to conserving rainwater because they can use it to irrigate vegetable fields for example, in case of a lack of rain. Through the ministry having agriculture in its attributions, we will ask the Government to establish a mechanism for raising awareness among the population so that they become aware of the consequences of the climatic hazards that threaten the soil. 

This is the reason why the Government should do everything to train the population on how to conserve rainwater.

It is with this wish that we end our remarks by reiterating our sincere thanks for your presence in these ceremonies. Wishing you a good return to your activities, we solemnly declare open the ordinary parliamentary session of December 2022.

God bless you!